TheStar Warsfranchise has explored numerous video game genres over the years, from fast-paced third-person shooters to sophisticated strategy games. One genre thatStar Warshasn’t been explored much in recent years, however, is the first-person shooter. The franchise does have experience in the FPS world in the form of classics such asStar Wars: DarkForcesandRepublic Commando, but the latter released nearly twenty years ago when the genre was very different from how it is now. There hasn’t been a dedicatedStar WarsFPS since, but that will all be changing sooner rather than later.
Developer Respawn Entertainment, still hot off the release ofStar Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, has been developing aStar WarsFPS for over a year now. While there isn’t so much as a title for the game, it has been reported thatRespawn’sStar WarsFPS will take inspiration fromDark Forces. This opens up all sorts of opportunities for gameplay that harkens back to the early days ofStar Warsgaming, but Respawn has another opportunity to give fans something they’ve never had before. This newStar WarsFPS could finally give the franchise’s bounty hunters a modern, first-person adventure.
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The Potential in a Star Wars Boutny Hunter FPS
Bounty hunters have been one of the most fascinating things aboutStar Warssince Boba Fett first hit movie screens inThe Empire Strikes Back. Their appearances in TV and film have been ubiquitous since then, but they’ve strangely failed to remain as prominent inStar Warsvideo games. Titles likeStar Wars: Bounty HunterandThe Old RepublicMMOhave allowed players to embody these cunning opportunists, but they have always taken a back seat to the Jedi and Sith of the galaxy. For such a popular type of character in the galaxy,Star Warsgames haven’t exactly done them justice.
If Respawn’sStar WarsFPS did let players embody a bounty hunter, its possibilities would be as wide as the galaxy it’s set in. In terms of narrative, Respawn could have players take on the role of an up-and-coming bounty hunter working their way through the ranks. They could start in the seedy underbelly of Coruscant as it was shown inthe canceledStar Wars 1313, and eventually reach the same prestige as bounty hunters like Jango Fett and Cad Bane. Respawn has said its FPS will be a story-driven experience, and focusing on this structure would be different from anything fans have played in a long time.
On the gameplay side of things, aStar WarsFPS centered on bounty hunters could give fans the widest arsenal of weapons they’ve ever seen in aStar Warsgames. Bounty hunters are known for having iconic weapons that embody their personality and tactics, like Din Djarin’s pulse rifle. Respawn could give players everything from blaster pistols to rocket launchers, each with their own upgrades that allow a player’s weapons to grow with their bounty hunting reputation. Respawn could also provide further depth with robust player customization mechanics, similar to a game likeCyberpunk 2077.
Information on Respawn’sStar WarsFPSis extremely limited, but it’s hard to not see the potential in a game that focuses on bounty hunters. The Jedi, Rebellion, and Empire have gotten the spotlight in games likeStar Wars Squadronsand the impendingStar Wars Jedi: Survivor, while bounty hunters sit on the sidelines and act as the occasional antagonist. As more developers outside of EA’s purview work onStar Warsgames, fans are likely to see greater variety in the franchise’s gaming experiences. Hopefully that will include a bounty hunter FPS that does justice to one of the most iconic parts ofStar Wars.
Respawn’sStar WarsFPS is currently in development.
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